JUDGMENT

Dr. A.K.Jayasankaran Nambiar, J.

These writ petitions raise an interesting question as regards the scope, content and extent of the right to freedom of speech and expression enuring to the media when they report facts about ongoing criminal investigations or the proceedings in cases pending adjudication before the various adjudicatory forums in the country. The writ petitions were initially considered by a Full Bench of this Court. However, by an order dated 24.05.2018, the Full Bench took the view that in the light of an earlier decision of another Full Bench of this Court in S. Sudin v. Union of India and Others – [ 2015 (2) KLT 296 (FB) ], these matters needed to be referred to a Larger Bench of five Judges for consideration. It is thus, and pursuant to an order dated 02.09.2024 of the Hon’ble the Acting Chief Justice, that these matters are now before us.

The issue to be considered:

Taking note of the specific prayers sought for in the writ petitions, in the light of the law as it then stood, the Full Bench of this Court that was considering the matter earlier had, on 21.02.2017, framed the following six issues for its consideration;

1. Whether the existing regulations